Men charged with shooting into Newport News restaurant

NEWPORT NEWS — Police recently charged two men with shooting into an occupied restaurant.

Jeffery Andrews, 42, and Michael Miles, 35, are charged in connection with a shooting into The Pondo Café and Lounge on Jefferson Avenue near Briarfield Road. Charges against Andrews, of Norfolk, include malicious shooting into a building, conspiracy malicious wounding and reckless handling of a firearm. Miles, of Hampton, is charged with conspiracy shooting into an occupied building, unlawfully shooting into a building and reckless handling of a firearm.

A police officer heard three gunshots at 1:18 a.m. on Nov. 21 near Briarfield Road. The officer followed the sound of the gunshots and was waved down by two people in the parking lot of the lounge, which had a bullet hole in its glass door, according to the criminal complaint.

According to witnesses, two men had assaulted the owner of the restaurant earlier in the night. The men were described as leaving inside a white truck, according to an affidavit for search warrant filed in Newport News Circuit Court.

Police later stopped a white truck that matched the description and found a handgun and "several spent casings, as well as a box of Remington Golden Saber" rounds, according to the criminal complaint. Golden Saber casings were also found at the lounge.

Both men — who are linked to a local motorcycle club — fit the description of the restaurant assailants, according to court documents.

Andrews and Miles were wearing clothing that identified them with the Renegades Motorcycle Club, according to the affidavit for search warrant filed in Newport News Circuit Court. Andrews told the officer he was the Newport News chapter president of the Renegades, according to the affidavit.

"I have learned that the motorcycle clubs historically control territories or areas like Newport News with violence, threats, and intimidation to gain respect," according to the affidavit. "These territories or areas are generally where the motorcycle clubs would conduct their criminal activity."